Closure cap for a container having a protruding rim opening

ABSTRACT

This invention concerns improvements in a plastic closure for a tight-head container having a protruding lip opening and adapted to hold a liquid under pressure wherein the closure includes a base, a generally cylindrically-shaped inner section or skirt adapted to fit into the container opening and a generally cylindrically-shaped outer rim section or skirt having an annular flexible support lip adapted to enclose the outer surface of the container opening and to engage the protruding lip of the container. The improvements include (1) a circumferential strengthening collar disposed on the outer portion of the outer rim section in the region of the rim opposite the closure base, (2) an outward taper of the inner surface of the outer rim section in the region of the collar and (3) a base which is concave in shape. Closure caps of the present invention provide an improved seal with glass bottles, reduce bottle breakage in the capping operation, and provide a ready indication if the bottles have been previously opened.

llnited States Patent Aichinger et al.

[451 Mar. 25, 1975- l CLOSURE CAP FOR A CONTAINER HAVING A PROTRUDING RIM OPENING [75] Inventors: Dietmar Aichinger, Arlesheim;

Reinhold Beck, Pfeffingen, both of Switzerland [73] Assignee: Albert Obrist & Co., Basel,

Switzerland [22] Filed: Mar. 13,1973

[21] Appl. No.: 340,906

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 17, 1972 Switzerland 3948/72 [52] U5. Cl. 215/320 [51] Int. Cl B65d 41/16 [58] Field of Search 215/41, 320

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,863,081 6/1932 Bellows 215/41 3,223,269 12/1965 Williams I 215/41 X 3,330,433 7/1967 Salminen 215/41 3,572,413 3/1971 Livingstone I 215/320 3,653,529 4/1972 Segmuller 215/41 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 359,368 2/1962 Switzerland 215/320 517,906 3/1953 Belgium .L .1 215/318 Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward .l. Brenner [57] ABSTRACT This invention concerns improvements in a plastic closure for a tight-head container having a protruding lip opening and adapted to hold a liquid under pressure wherein the closure includes a base, a generally cylindrically-shaped inner section or skirt adapted to fit into the container opening and a generally cylindrical- Iy-shaped outer rim section or skirt havingan annular flexible support lip adapted to enclose the outer surface of the container opening and to engage the protruding lip of the container. The improvements include (l) a circumferential strengthening collar disposed on the outer portion of the outer rim section in the s gn f .thedmemmite K159195 2? ba an outward taper of the inner surface of the outer rim section in the region of the collar and (3) a base which is concave in shape. Closure caps of the present invention provide an improved seal with glass bottles, reduce bottle breakage in the capping operation, and provide a ready indication if the bottles have been previously opened, (2)

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures l I i A PSJENTEUHARZSISYS sum 2 a; 2

FIG 4 CLOSURE CAP FOR A CONTAINER HAVING A PROTRUDING RIM OPENING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to closures for containers and more particularly to improvements in plastic closures for tight-head containers, such as bottles, having a protruding lip opening and adapted to hold pressurized beverages.

.2. Description of the Prior Art Containers for beverages under pressure have normally in the past, been sealed with metal closure caps, namely crown caps. These well-known crown caps seal up the open mouth of the bottle neck, at the radially extending ring surface of the bottle neck. The well-known metal crown cap, by encircling the protruding lip of the bottles neck, is joined with it in this manner. The metal crown cap reliably seals the interior of the container also against the increased pressure of the pasteurizing process.

Recently, the use of plastic closure caps for bottles containing pressurized beverages has been proposed. For example, Swiss Patent No. 512,371 discloses a particular plastic closure cap design for such purposes. However, even though such prior art designs for plastic closure caps have the advantage that they are less expensive to manufacture than metal closure caps, they have a number of disadvantages which have limited their use in commercial operations. More particularly, the plastic closure caps of the prior art have had the following disadvantages.

In capping bottles with plastic closure caps of the prior art, the inner core or skirt of the cap must be forced into the opening of the glass bottle container to effect the sealing. This sealing operation creates a great deal ofpressure on the containers neck with the result that a relatively high proportion of the glass bottles which are capped are broken by the shattering of the bottle neck. Another disadvantage of the prior art plastic closure cap designs is that due to the pressure in the bottle, the closure caps tend to pop off which is obviously undesireable. Another related. disadvantage is that such closure caps can be relatively easily removed by hand by persons tampering with the bottles, which again is obviously undesireable from a health standpoint. Furthermore, with these prior art designs, there is no convenient way by which it is possible to determine or detect whether a bottle has been previously opened by an unauthorized person and then rescaled.

Also, in the case of certain prior art designs, it is not possible or convenient to use conventional bottle openers to open bottles capped with such plastic closure caps.

All of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art closure caps are minimized or eliminated by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with improvements in a plastic closure for a tight-head container having a protruding lip opening and adapted to hold a liquid under pressure in which the closure includes a base, a generally cylindrically-shaped inner section adapted to fit into the container opening and a generally cylindrically-shaped outer rim section having an annular, flexible support-lid adapted to enclose the outer surface of the container opening and to. engage the protruding lip of the container, wherein the improvements include the provision of a circumferential strengthening collar disposed on the outer portion of the outer rim section in the region of the rim opposite the closure base.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a plastic closure for bottles for pressurized beverages which reduces or eliminates the problem of breakage of such bottles during the capping process.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a plastic closure cap for bottles for pressurized beverages which reduces or eliminates the problem of caps popping out of the bottles due to the internal pressure of the bottled beverage, including the ability to withstand the higher pressure of pasteurizing or other handling.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a plastic closure 'cap for bottles for pressurized beverages which can be opened with conventional crown cap bottle openers, and after this initial opening the closure cap can be reused to seal the container again.

It is a further object of the presentinvention to provide a plastic closure cap for bottles of pressurized beverages which reduces the problem of having such bottles opened by unauthorized persons.

It is still further an object of the present invention to provide a means of detecting whether plastic closure caps for bottles of pressurized beverages have been previously opened.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawmgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS showing on the left of the closure cap during the process of pressing it into a bottles neck, and on the right, the completed insertion into the containers neck;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a particularly preferred embodiment of a closure cap of the present invention with the left half cut away in cross section;

FIG. Sis a bottom view ofthe left half, and a top view of the right half, of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, including a showing on the left of the closure cap during the process of pressing it into a bottles neck and on the right, the completed insertion into the containers neck.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The closure cap shown in FIGS. 1-3 is bowl shaped. It has a circular cap base 1, from which projects in an outward axial direction an annular, cylindrical rim or skirt section 2 and radially spaced to the inside thereof, an annular cylindrical inner section or skirt 3.

The rim section 2 includes in the area of its open end an annular resiliently yielding support lip or projection 4, protruding radially to the inside, as the drawings show, to form an apex A.

On the outside, rim section 2 is reinforced by an annular, circumferential ring-shaped collar 10, as well as by equally spaced ribs 11 extending from the caps base.

Radially disposed inside inner section 3 is a slightly concave curved area 6 of the caps base 1.

Inner section 3 forming a support lip has a barrelshaped convexly curved outer contour 5. The apex B of inner section 3 is disposed at a point closer to the caps base 1 than is the location of apex A of support lip 4. The apex B is designed to seal tightly the inner wall 17 of the containers neck 15.

The diameter of apex B is greater than the diameter of the inner wall 17 of the containers neck 15. The inner section 3 is designed in the form of a hollow cylinder to provide flexibility. However, the wall between the hollow cylinder of the inner contour, and the convex outer contour, is relatively strong and capable of exerting considerable sealing force or pressure.

At the lower border of inner section 3, four equallyspaced ring sections 9 are disposed, the inner borders of which are joined to the border of section 3. Between the ring sections 9 are four notches 8.

In the left half of FIG. 3 the closure cap is shown in an intermediate position while being pressed into the containers neck 15. Due to the axial disposition of apex A, of support lip 4, and apex B of thesupport lip 3, the encircling apex A first contacts the rounded outer contour-of the protruding lip 16 of the containers neck 15. Thereafter, apex B of the support lip 3 contacts the hollow cylinder of the interior wall 17 of the containers neck 15. During the process of insertion, the support lip 4 and rim section 2 are radially spread outward, which results in an inwardly-directed pressure by apex A on the rounded outer contour of the protruding lip 16 of the containers neck 15. This radially, inwardly directed force opposes the outwardly directed force of apex B of sealing lip 3, which has been created by the force which sealing lip 3 exercises du to its particular construction.

Therefore the closure cap in a completely compressed condition fits with great radial stress against the interior wall 17 of the containers neck, which insures a reliable seal even at high pressure, as could occur during pasteurizing of the containers contents once it has been sealed.

Due to the described construction, especially during insertion procedure, a radially, outward directed force is exerted bythe sealing lip 3 by apex B, which is always absorbed by apex A of the support lip 4 and especially by collar 10, so that a shattering of the containers neck is prevented. The collar 10 and the axial ribs 11 reinforce the rim section 2 in such a way, that the-described support force is sufficiently strong to prevent breakage of the bottle. The necessary axial force for spreading the rim section 2 and the support lip 3 during insertion is so great, that it can only be produced by machine. However, once a closure cap of the present invention has been opened, it may be resealed or opened by hand.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 46, with elements similar to those shown in the embodiment in FIG. 1 being given similar numbers in the series or letters with primes associated therewith. The major differences between the embodiment shown in FIGS. 46 as compared with the embodiment shown in FIGS. l-3 are as follows.

The closure cap of FIGS. 4-6 does not include elements corresponding to ribs 11, ring 9 or vents 8. Also, the inner, lower surface of rim section 102 is tapered outwardly from top to bottom to form a pointed rim 112. Further, the concave upper surface 106 of base 1010 extends from the periphery thereof rather than being disposed only in the central portion of the base as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3.

The closure caps of the present invention are preferably constructed of a tough, resilient, flexible plastic such as polyethylene. However, other plastics haiving these properties, such as polypropylene, etc., also may be utilized to advantage in the present invention.

From the foregoing discussion, the advantages of the closure cap of the present invention should become apparent. Thus, the collar which assists in resisting the force exerted by the cylindrical, inner section or skirt substantially reduces the possibilities of bottle breakage on capping as well as the popping out of the cap as a result of internal pressure. The bottom edge of the collar also provides a means whereby the closure caps of thepresent invention may be conveniently opened with conventional bottle openers. Further, bottles capped with the closure caps of the present invention can only practically be opened with bottle openers and when this is done, the opener leaves indentations or other marks indicating that the bottle has been initially opened, even after it has been resealed with the original cap. In addition, the concave shaped base of the closure caps of the present invention provides greater strength. The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 46 which includes the pointed rim 112 has the advantage that this pointed rim is more readily deformed in opening with a bottle opener than the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. In addition, the pointed rim discourages people from trying to open the bottle by hand thus requiring people to use a bottle opener which in turn will produce the tell-tale marks indicating that the bottle had been previously opened.

While the foregoing describes two specific embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that the present invention is subject to various modifications within the capabilities of persons skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention can be practiced with a variety of designs without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: j

1. An assembly of l) a tight-head glass bottle container having a protruding lip opening and adapted to hold a liquid under pressure, said protruding lip having a rounded outer contour, and (2) a plastic closure for said container comprising a base having a concave shape,

a generally cylindrically-shaped hollow inner section adapted to fit into the container opening and having a diameter larger than the diameter of said container opening, the outer surface of said inner section being convex in contour, and

a generally cylindrically-shaped outer rim section having an annular, flexible support lip adapted to enclose the outer surface of the container opening and to engage the protruding lip of the container, said outer rim section having a circumferential collar disposed on the outer portion thereof in the region of the rim opposite said base, the apex of the convex contour of said inner section being dis posed at a point closer to said base than the location of the support lip of the outer rim section,

the closure and collar thereof being constructed of a flexible, resilient plastic and said outer rim section being tapered outwardly in the region of said collar to form a pointed edge at its end opposite said base whereby said pointed rim discourages people from trying to remove by hand said closure from said container and whereby removal of said closure from said container by means of a bottle opener leaves indentations indicating that said container has been opened.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the concave 1O shape of said base extends from the periphery thereof.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the plastic is polyethylene, 

1. An assembly of (1) a tight-head glass bottle container having a protruding lip opening and adapted to hold a liquid under pressure, said protruding lip having a rounded outer contour, and (2) a plastic closure for said container comprising a base having a concave shape, a generally cylindrically-shaped hollow inner section adapted to fit into the container opening and having a diameter larger than the diameter of said container opening, the outer surface of said inner section being convex in contour, and a generally cylindrically-shaped outer rim section having an annular, flexible support lip adapted to enclose the outer surface of the container opening and to engage the protruding lip of the container, said outer rim section having a circumferential collar disposed on the outer portion thereof in the region of the rim opposite said base, the apex of the convex contour of said inner section being disposed at a point closer to said base than the location of the support lip of the outer rim section, the closure and collar thereof being constructed of a flexible, resilient plastic and said outer rim section being tapered outwardly in the region of said collar to form a pointed edge at its end opposite said base whereby said pointed rim discourages people from trying to remove by hand said closure from said container and whereby removal of said closure from said container by means of a bottle opener leaves indentations indicating that said container has been opened.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the concave shape of said base extends from the periphery thereof.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the plastic is polyethylene. 